1 Six Months Old

 Maralee & Adeline

It is so hard to believe that another month has gone by and our girls are now six months old!  In six more months they will be one!!!!!  They always say that time flies as you get older, and I really do feel like it has flown by these past three months of them being home with us.  I am a pretty sentimental person but I am trying to not linger on the memories and enjoy the present.  These girls are growing up right in front of my eyes and I don't want to miss any second of it.

Adeline

Six Months Old

We had our six month doctor's appointment and Adeline has hit 10 pounds!  Maralee is right behind her at 9.11 pounds.  Can you believe we are in the double digits?  When I think that we started at two pounds it makes my heart feel such achievement for these little fighters. We are still wearing newborn clothes but are hoping to move into some of our bigger clothes over the next two months. Both sets of eyes are looking good and we should only have to go back one more time before we are cleared.  The girls received their six month shots and also are starting the RSV shot which will help their premature lungs during flu season.  We are still on formula and he thinks we will be able to start rice cereal in another month.  One thing that we discussed in detail was their bedtime sleep habits.  The past month they had been going to bed after their 10:30/11:00 feed and would wake up around 4:30.  That was a lot better than 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. but he encouraged us to start a new schedule that should help them sleep through the night.  Our goal is to start weaning that 10 p.m. feed back to 7:00 p.m. so they sleep from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m.  I don't know what Raleigh and I will do with ourselves when that time comes!!!!!  One of the hardest things about our new schedule is letting them cry when they wake up at 4:30 a.m. and see if they go back to sleep.  We decided that it would be easier for us to let them cry if they started to sleep in their nursery upstairs.  The first couple of nights were hard hearing them scream through the baby monitor but after about three nights, they are sleeping until we come in their room the next morning!  I am so proud of them adjusting to this new routine that benefits us all! :)

Maralee

Six Months Old

Also, we have started to have more interactive play time.  At three months, they love to grasp things and have started to study what is going on around them.  I went a little gift card happy at Target and bought all of these fun little developmental toys and videos for them to watch.  It is so much fun watching them learn!  One of the biggest things that we try to do each day is our exercises to build their muscles.  They get tummy time on their Boppy pillows and we also kick their legs and practice pulling our necks up.  Our pediatrician pointed out that Adeline's neck is stronger on the left so we also do an exercise to help her strengthen the right side of her neck for better head control.  Raleigh got out the Johnny Jumper and padded it with blankets so the girls could sit in it.  Of course, they aren't ready to jump because their feet barely touch the ground, but they have fun swinging around in circles.  When they do this, they turn their head in the direction that we are in so I think that is benefiting their head control as well.  They also are starting to have little conversations with us and we get an occasional squeal from time to time that is just too darn cute.

Christen & Adeline

Raleigh & Maralee

I think as time goes on, we are going to get to experience so much with them.  Our pastor stopped us the other day and asked how we were doing.  He has three kids that are in high school and middle school and he said for us to just try and enjoy each stage of their lives and somehow the next stage is always better than the last.  That made sense to me and it is so encouraging for the future.  Thanks to everyone that has prayed for these girls to grow big and strong; they are truly little miracles. 

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

Read more ...

0 You're my boy blue!

So I was going through the ole' digital photo album the other day and came across this little photo, which other than pictures of our girls - is just the cutest thing!

 

Yep, this was Obi when he was just a pup!  He's so tiny and cute.  We couldn't find his breed anywhere around here so we had to get him online.  I found a breeder and we were given first pick of the litter.  We were shown this little adorable fellow and another that was wearing a crimson colored sweater and was also the Alpha Male.  Seeing as we naturally dislike anything in crimson (sorry Grandpaw Jim) and we already had an Alpha (fe)Male in the house, this little fella was the obvious choice.

You're my boy blue!

-Raleigh

Read more ...

2 Under Pressure

This month I realized that I put too much pressure on myself to succeed.  This revelation occurred to me last Monday as our family was driving to Dothan.  The warm haziness of the sun had just drifted beyond reach and darkness started to set in as we drove south on Highway 231.  Raleigh and I had been in a tizzy earlier that day and we were finally discussing our gripes with one another.  Lately, I have been a bit of a grinch.  My tongue has been short and I haven't really enjoyed the companionship of my husband.  Everything he had done last month just plain got on my nerves.  If he took all of the covers at bedtime I felt like he was doing it to make me feel cold.  If he drank the last gulp of water out of our shared cup, it was his fault it was empty.  When our big dog was hysterically hyper I threatened to have him stay in Dothan next time we visited because it was Raleigh's fault that he was acting this way.  Anything and everything about that boy was just getting on my nerves.

Needless to say, what conversation we had up to that point in the car had been limited.  Finally, neither one of us could take the silence any more and on that two hour drive we both apologized for the way we had been treating one another.  Raleigh said that he has been having trouble being at work instead of home with the girls.  He knew our dog needed to be exercised but he would rather spend time holding and kissing our babies instead of running.  He was having a difficult time managing all of his responsibilities and he felt like I had too high of expectations for him.  He was right about the last one.  I expect way too much from my husband.  I want him to be the perfect family man and I often ignore any signs of struggle.

Raleigh did have some blame-worthy moments this past October, but I take first place in the one instigating the problems.  It all goes back to my need to succeed.  Last month, I was stressed.  I finally realized that on our drive home.  As the cow pastures and peanut fields passed by my window, my heart began to soften.  I just started to talk, hiding my tears in the darkness of the night.  I felt so bad for the way I had been treating Raleigh.  He was such an easy target and it made me feel better to place blame on him rather than myself.  As I was talking, I realized that the pressures in my life are put there only by me.  I used to think it was my circumstances or my job.  Whenever I used to feel stressed I thought it was because I had to do what I was doing and if I could only choose how to live my life I wouldn't feel stressed.  I realized that ever since I stopped working outside the home I have still put pressure on myself to stay busy.  I think that made me feel like my days were still worthwhile; that somehow what I do now is still just as important as having a real job that gave me a pay check every two weeks.  I want my life to be filled with substantial days and not let any hour go to waste.

So, the question I had to ask myself, "Is caring for my babies wasteful?"  My answer every time is, "No, it most certainly is not."  I realized that the babies are not the root of my issue.  I think the reason I feel this way is because I still have my own goals that I want to see fulfilled.  If I don't take time to work on these goals, I will feel like my purpose in life was never accomplished.  I don't want to look back in twenty years and wish I had taken more time to devote to this ambition but at the same time I don't want to miss out on any moment with my two beautiful little miracles.  So, is now the time to accomplish these goals?

This is where my problem lies.  My girls are my number one priority besides God and my husband.  Period.  End of discussion.  When our day starts, I do everything that I have to for them.  We eat, change diapers, play, learn, grow, and sleep.  That takes up a major portion of my day.  What time I have left is juggled between friends, family, household commitments, quiet time with God, the blog, learning to sew, and my goals among other things.  Every day is different but I try so hard to keep consistency.  I think that if I stick to my planner as a guideline, I will get everything accomplished.  But, I think I push myself too hard some days.  When it looks like I'm not going to get things done, I start to feel anxious.  That is where the pressure begins.  It is this need for perfection that is driving me nuts.  I need to be satisfied to focus on quality rather than quantity.

Before the girls were born, I really felt like God was calling me to go deeper with my writing.  Our whole experience in the NICU

My quiet time is way shorter these days and my prayers have been more of thankfulness than anything else.  I have SO much to be thankful for and I feel like now is the time to act on how gracious He has been to me.  Last year was a time for seeking out my purpose and I felt the calling on my life.  Why is it so hard now to accomplish it?  Why am I second guessing it?  I think it is because I see this huge picture and I'm not taking it one step at a time.  If I have learned anything, it is to trust God and give Him all control.  I need to take some time to spend with him in genuine prayer.  My soul is yearning to scoot closer to Him so I can rest my head on His shoulder.  He needs to stroke my hair and tell me everything is going to be okay.  I need to look at Him and realize that Christ is perfection and it is our goal to live our lives like Christ but not as Christ.  I need to know that what I am doing is meaningful in His eyes and is part of His plan for my life.

So, friends, I think I need to spend some alone time with God.  I need to remember that what I am doing is very meaningful.  It is growing me into the woman that I want to become but that woman needs to stop putting so much pressure on herself.  I have to get past this need to succeed and literally take things one day at a time like I did this summer.  Getting back to the heart of the matter, I have to trust in God's perfect timing.  If this goal of mine is meant to be fulfilled in the near future, it will.  I need to remember what God has already taught me so I can continue to move forward instead of going backwards.  This month might be a little different for my blogging.  As important as it is to me, I might not be posting as much material this month as I have been.  Who knows, I might be posting a ton if I feel His gentle prompting...I guess we will see as the days unfold.  All I know is I need to spend some genuine time filling up my soul through His truth.  Thank you for allowing me to share such tender feelings; I already feel like this is a step in the right direction.

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

Read more ...

0 Monthly Memory Verse: November

Happy 1st of November Everyone!

I started to think about what verse I wanted to memorize this month and the word prayer kept coming into my heart.  Lately, our small group has been talking a lot about how powerful prayer truly is.  We have been saying that prayer is what brings us closer to God and it deepens our relationship with Him.  But, it is also a way for us to listen to what he is telling us to do.   Prayer is a necessity in our pursuit of living our lives like Christ.  So, this month I wanted 2 Corinthians 13:8-9 to be my memory verse.

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.  We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.

 

Now, I know we typically do two verses a month, but today I just wanted to focus on one.  I must admit that last month I got behind on my memorizing so right now I am choosing to just memorize this verse.  Have a great day!

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

Read more ...

3 Check Out My New Ride

 So, we finally decided that we wanted to seriously consider becoming the next Swagger Wagon family.  While we were on our car search, I drove the newest model here in Montgomery and loved it.  It had DVD players, reclining bucket seats, seat warmers, sun roof, both sliding doors and the trunk opened automatically....it had everything that you could want.  After driving that van, I told Raleigh that I was okay driving a van but I wanted the coolest one he could find.  Two Fridays ago, Raleigh left work a little early and we drove to a city outside of Birmingham to look at two different vans.  I knew we would be looking at some older models but in my mind they still had the same features as the one I had driven.  When we pulled up and started to look at these vans, all excitement vanished.  The seats were not leather.  There was no sun roof.  No cool DVD player.  Only one door automatically slide open......I looked at Raleigh in astonishment and asked, "Where's all the cool stuff?????"   He reminded me that this was an older version and even though it doesn't have the cool stuff it was still in excellent condition.  The salesman gave us the keys so we could drive it around the block.  As I was driving, I started to fume.  I was driving and pointing out everything that it didn't have.  After the fuming, I began to cry.  I was so sad and I could NOT believe that THIS was the VAN that I would be driving for the next ten years of my life.  I felt old.  I so did not feel cool driving that thing.

After a couple of loops around the block, we pulled back in the dealership and I just sat in the back seat glaring at my husband.  How could he make me drive this thing?????  He promised me a cool van and this was all he could come up with?  I was laying it on thick.  Raleigh stared back at me and said that he was sorry that I was misled into thinking that this van would be like the newest model.  He told me that we didn't have to buy it today and we could keep looking.  After that, we both sat in the van for a long period of silence.  During that time, I just stared at the inside of the vehicle.  To myself, I thought, "It does have bucket seats.  The trunk space is nice.  At least one door slides open."  Finally, I looked at the two little faces that were sitting in those bucket seats.  Their car seats fit perfect.  I was actually sitting in the way back seat and had plenty of room.  I looked at my husband and realized how hard he always tries to please me.  I knew that he wouldn't want this van if it wasn't a good fit for our family.  Our eyes met and we both knew the decision that was best for our family.   After an hour of paper signing, we were officially inducted into the Swagger Wagon family.

So, it has been two weeks and I am starting to come around to the fact that I am 26 and drive a van.  I just had to stop looking at the negatives and focus on the positive because we really do have a great new vehicle.  Only the newest models have all the cool features but ours is really a great car for the year that it was made in.  We have driven it to church and it was so easy to load and unload the girls.  Our stroller fits in the trunk like a glove.  I can actually sit in the passenger seat and recline my chair without it hitting a car seat! We are going to get a DVD player installed and since the seats aren't leather there really isn't a need for seat warmers.  Also, both side windows are huge and roll fully down and that is kinda neat. To seal the deal, I have even changed a very poopy diaper in the back seat and I would have never been able to do that in my old car.

What do you mean vans aren't cool.....

The only time I realize I am driving a van is when I pull out my keys to get in the front seat.  I have gotten over the fact that it is a van and have come to terms with it being a great purchase for our family.  I'm glad my husband found this van for us and that we should be able to drive it for many more years.  This whole van experience has really taught me to not be so vain.  Again I have learned not to care what other people think and just do what is best for me and my family.  I am proud to be a mom that drives a VAN!!!!!! Thanks to everyone that gave us suggestions on what car to purchase for our  family!  We truly appreciate it!



Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

Read more ...

2 For Me Mommy

So, I have a confession to make.  We did not run in the Montgomery Half-Marathon.  I know, I know, I had this whole great motivating post about how we would run in it for the girls but.....it just didn't happen.  There is really no need for excuses but I do have one :)  It just got hard to find time to run.  And, we couldn't run with the girls and we would rather spend our time with them instead of running.  There.  I said it!  I would still LOVE to run in a half-marathon and I do believe that thinking of their NICU journey will motivate me to actually complete 13.1 miles but it just didn't happen this year.

Instead, we decided to walk in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.  As a former employee of ACS, I really wanted to support this event by being present and walking.  It was the first time it was held in Montgomery and was a huge success!  But, more importantly, we decided to walk in memory of Raleigh's Me Mommy.  Breast cancer took her from her loved ones but her memory is not forgotten!  I never had the opportunity to meet Me Mommy but I have heard so many wonderful stories about her.  One of my favorites is the fact that she would still water ski even in her later years of life.  How remarkable!  Also, I always hear what a great cook she was.  Mr. Price didn't have pizza until he was in high school because his momma would cook good ole' Southern food for her family. 

Maralee and Adeline strolled in honor of Me Mommy

October 9, 2010

5 1/2 months

Raleigh and I did manage to walk 3 miles...next year we just need to do 10.1 more!!! (ha ha)

 

Adeline in her little hoodie

Me Mommy is smiling down from heaven at her grandson and two great-grandbabies

 

Beside attending this walk, last week was pretty busy.  On Wednesday, my sweet friend Abby came to town to see the girls.  Abby and I met in college when we were both Camp War Eagle Counselors.   I truly treasure our friendship and am so excited because she and her husband are expecting a baby girl in December!  She is so cute pregnant and we had the best time catching up.  Abby couldn't get over how much the girls stretched.  I hadn't ever really thought about it but I guess they do stretch a lot...must be growing girls!

Abby, Adeline, Maralee & I had such a nice afternoon!

On Thursday we were invited to dinner at some friends that had recently remodeled their kitchen.  Raleigh was out of town but I decided to take the girls anyway.  It was my first time taking care of the girls by myself in public.  They were a little fussy in the beginning and I had to feed them while trying to eat my dinner but all in all it was manageable.  My friends' husbands helped me take the girls out to the car and everyone was so willing to hold one girl if I needed any assistance so that was great.  I am so happy to be in Montgomery with this group of friends right now.  We all have little girls and I just can't wait until they can really play with one another.  Below are some pictures that we tried to take that night of all of the girls....

This cracks me up!  

Adeline, Mary Harris, Olivia, and Maralee

Adeline and Mary Harris

 

The girls + baby in the belly

We can't wait for Lily Broox to join us!!!!!

Friends, fellowship is so important in our day to day living.  It was so nice to just enjoy the company of others last week.  I hope each of you take time to spend with friends this weekend.

Till next time, let your light shine!


Blessings, christen

Read more ...

0 Meet the Godwins

JW and KC Godwin are your typical little Southern family.  They got married, moved to a new city, bought a house, and have an adorable baby girl named Olivia.  When first meeting this couple, one will crack up at JW's love for Reba and will get helpful parenting tips from KC.  This family looks complete on the outside, but on the inside they have a deep desire to follow God's will for their lives.  Recently, JW and KC made a life-changing decision for their family.  They have answered God's calling on their hearts to adopt a child.  Read below about why they decided to do this and how their journey is going.  For more information about the Godwin family and their adoption process, visit their blog at ourzoegrace.blogspot.com.

So, you're adopting....why did you decide to adopt?

            Adoption is something that has been placed on our hearts for a long time. Ever since we started dating we both mentioned how we had a passion for helping children and how we planned on adopting one day. After Olivia was born we thought that the urge and pull we were feeling towards adoption would, not go away completely, but at least settle down some. Well it did the exact opposite. God started moving in our lives SO MUCH stronger. We both felt moved and called by God to do this. So we finally decided one day that we just had to let go and do it. So we did. And we are SO glad we did. It has been the most amazing journey of our lives.

What made you choose Ethiopia?

            We have been asked that question so many times we have to laugh now every time it's asked. We always get put in the situation where we are talking about the adoption, how much God has moved in our lives and then when that question gets asked - all of the excitement leaves. "Why did we choose Ethiopia?" We have no idea. That's it. That's the answer that everyone seems to lose the interest over. I know it may seem a little weird but really we don't know. We both felt called first to doing an international adoption, then to Africa. Then I guess Ethiopia chose us.

Tell us about the adoption process...tips, things you have learned, steps/time frame that it takes.

            God always tests us and gives us things that we think we can't handle and puts us in situations to help us learn. Man oh man did he do that when he put us on the path of adoption. Neither of us have the longest patience in the world and when it comes to adoptions - nothing moves quickly. It is a slow process with a ton of paperwork. But looking back over these past few months I think it has been a good thing that it has taken and is taking so long. It has given us time to evaluate ourselves and really focus on what God has in store for us. What his plans are for us. What this adoption will do for him.

            You start off by applying with an agency. They then do a few reference checks and as long as everyone says good things about you, and you pay the application fee and you meet the requirements (ie age, years of marriage, age of youngest child, etc.) you are accepted into the program. Yep. That's it. It's that simple.

            After that step then it becomes more detailed and tedious. You have to go through a "home study" and if your agency, like ours, is out of the state you live in then you have to find someone in state to do it and coordinate with your agency. During the home study you are asked a number of questions about your lifestyle, your marriage, your parenting skills, your childhood, your parents, etc. They spend about two months getting to know everything that they can about you. You and your spouse will do interviews together and separate.

            You will fill out a ton of paperwork, get your fingers prints done and sent off to the FBI and the ABI, in Alabama, or where ever you may live. In that same time you are working on your financial statement. Most agencies like for there to be an excess of $100.00 per individual in the household, including the new addition, by the time all expenses are paid. So it can be a very stressful time if you are trying to make it all work. When you start canceling gym memberships, cutting back on satellite packages and other "extra's" that everyone enjoys, you realize about that thing called sacrifice. But then you realize what you are gaining out of this and how it would be worth living in the dark for 10 years if that would help you get your baby home.

            After all of that is complete and you have been working and waiting for about three or four months you start your dossier paperwork. Now this is where it becomes country specific. Friends of our that are adopting from Uganda didn't have to do a "dossier" it was called something else and required different things. But as far as Ethiopia goes, you have to have everything as an original and notarized. You need three copies total, two can be photo copies - one is for the courts in Ethiopia and that is all of the originals, then one goes to your agency, which can be a copy and then you keep one.

            You turn that in once it's done and then you wait. I honestly can't say what happens next because we are stuck at that point right now. We are waiting for our referral. It could happen as soon as three weeks or as long as nine months, we just don't know. This is another one of those trying times when you just have to hand it over to God and let him take control.

What advice do you have for other couples that are interested in adopting?

            Pray about it and if you THINK you can do it - DO IT! Don't let worldly things slow you down from doing it. While it is an expensive adventure it is an amazing one and God will bless you for it. Trust me. Turn it all over to God. He may have gotten you to pick out a car, but you need to let him drive it. Trust in him and stay focused. It can be very discouraging and you may think things aren't moving fast enough or that you wouldn't make a difference, but that just isn't true. There is one baby out there tonight who is destined to be your baby - he or she may not be born yet, or may already be in an orphanage somewhere, but God knows who they are and all they are waiting on is for you to take the steps to bring them home. Take the leap of faith - it is well worth it!

What struggles have you had along the process?

            The main struggle we have had was us trying to figure out a way that we were going to tell everyone about the adoption. We felt that when we told someone what we were doing, we needed to follow it up with an explanation. It took us a few weeks to realize that we didn't owe an explanation to anyone and that everyone was more open, encouraging and excited about it than we thought they may have been.

            The second struggle has been one of the biggest ones that almost every adopting family faces - money. It is an expensive thing to do and not many people have an extra 20 or 30 thousand dollars they can use, but God opens doors during the process. If you let go and have faith in God, everything will work out like he has planned.

Are you concerned how accepting your community will be of you having a black child?

            We were at first. It is only a natural thing. We are the blonde haired, blue eyed family in deep south Alabama. Anyone who has been born and raised here realizes, even though many don't talk about it, people aren't always accepting of those circumstances and families. So naturally we thought about how people were going to react about us having a black child - but we then stopped and focused again and realized that it didn't care what others thought. We realize that it is going to be at times difficult to explain things to our girls and others, but we know that God will let us know what to say and when.

How has God used this experience to grow your faith?

            We have grown in our marriage and our faith together since this has started. We have grown so much closer and have learned how to not only rely on each other for things, but instead how to work together and stay focused on the main goal - bringing Zoe Grace home.

            It has also been an excellent way for us both to be able to open up and talk about our relationship and walk with God.

Do you have any fears about raising an adopted child?

            The fear of not knowing much, if any, family history is a fear that naturally runs through your mind, but it isn't something that would ever make us stop the process.

            We also wonder what our biological children will say and one day when they are old enough to realize how our family is made up, what they might think of that it and how they feel about it.

How can others help you during this adoption process?

            Well, the time to fundraise has come and the biggest challenge for us is not opening our hearts and home to another child, but it is in finding the finances to make this happen. We estimate our total costs for adoption fees, document preparation, home study, airfare, travel, attorney fees, etc. to be close to $27,000 - and that's certainly money we don't have just lying around, but we know God is faithful and is leading us to trust Him. By God's grace we've been able to pay the initial fees by practically draining most of our savings and by some private donations.

            Honestly, it's a little difficult, mainly because of our pride, to make our needs known to everyone around us, but we also know it's very Biblical to do so. We appreciate your friendship very much and would like you to pray and consider helping us in our adoption. There are three ways you can help:

1.) Prayer - Please pray God will tenderly care for Zoe Grace in Ethiopia until we are able to bring her home, that God would prepare Olivia for the upcoming changes to our family, and that God will give us wisdom, discernment, and insight as we raise Olivia and Zoe to know Jesus Christ.

2.) Financial Support - Will you please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us pay the remaining $10,000 in adoption expenses, to bring Zoe home?

Lifesong has graciously set up a fundraising account for us to raise funds to help pay the "ransom" to bring Zoe home. If you would like to be a part of God bringing Zoe to Himself through our family, you can send your tax-deductible gift starting today October 1st! Lifesong is a trusted organization administering the funds on Zoe's behalf, and will pay the adoption expenses out of fund received. They truly are amazing people and a God send!

Steps to do this:

-Please make checks payable to: "Lifesong"

-You should write "Godwin/#1549" in the memo section.

-You can then mail your check to:

       Lifesong for Orphans

       Att: Godwin/#1549

       Post Office Box 40

       Gridley, Illinois 61744

3.) BUY A T-SHIRT – 

We have been selected as the family of the quarter by a wonderful website called Dolka Pots. It was started to help families raise money for adoptions. There are two families chosen each quarter and whatever is bought on the website, you have an option to decide which family you would like to receive the credit and then that family gets a certain percentage of the proceeds from the sales during their quarter. They are also selling and making our t-shirts and we get 50% of all proceeds from our t-shirt sales and that will go 100% directly to travel expenses. So I hope you will take a moment and at least look at our shirt and around on their website. If there is anything that you would like to buy, make sure you chose “Godwin family” when you go to check out. We would really appreciate it.  

http://www.dolkapots.com/ – our shirts are on the page we are the “Godwin’s.”

I don’t think we could ever say thank you enough to everyone and how supportive you have all been. Thank you for investing in the Kingdom through prayer and finances - it will be an investment with an eternal return! (Matt 6:20). We'll give you an update with a picture of Zoe as soon as we receive it and any other details as we receive them. Please pray this entire process will glorify God and fulfill His purposes! Check out and follow our blog at - http://ourzoegrace.blogspot.com

JW, KC and Olivia

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

Loading...

Ctrl+FSearch the document

F3Find next

Shift+F3Find previous

Edit online

Download original

Save in Google Docs

Ctrl+PPrint (PDF)

Zoom in

Zoom out

Fit page to screen

Fit two pages to screen

Shift+Ctrl+FCompact controls

Plain HTML

Read more ...

1 Twins' Birth Announcement

Good Monday Morning Friends!

Just wanted to share the twins' birth announcement with all of you! We want to thank Mark Broadway Photography for taking such sweet pictures of our girls.  Hope everyone is having a nice Monday :)

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

Read more ...

0 Chris10's Monthly Must-Haves: October

Sarah's House

Sarah's House is a new show that I L-O-V-E on HGTV.  Words can't describe how I feel about the farm house that she renovated.  Her style is superb and I would kill to have a house that looked like that one day!!!!  The episode that I first watched was about her re-doing a farm house bathroom.  She chose this really pretty yellow fabric for the drapes and she scored an old claw foot tub for $200.  This show is really fun to watch if you are into remodeling homes and I like how she sets a budget yet every room looks so elegant.  This is a must-watch (Saturdays at 8:30 pm/7:30 central) on HGTV!

Awesome Leggings

Last year, one of my friends had a CAbi party at her house.  I went and scored these great black leggings.  Now, I know these days everybody has a pair of black leggings, but these are really great.  They are thicker so they don't feel like I am wearing tights under a dress and they have this great rouching right above the ankle that gives the leg a very slim look.  I have several pairs of leggings and these are by far my favorite.  Now is the perfect time to sport the leggings/flats look!

Taco Soup

Taco Soup is a really great tailgating food to serve this time of year.  It is so easy to make plus it is very warm and hearty.  There are so many recipes out there on how to make it, but here is one that is super easy from my friend Celeste.  Here's a tip that I learned the hard way: Make sure you brown your meat BEFORE it goes in the crock pot!!!!! 

Mums

These flowers are a must-have for any doorstep!  Mums are so beautiful and perfect fall flowers.  When I think of fall, I think of pumpkins and mums.  Southern Living has some great ideas on how to decorate with mums for the fall!

Ramen Noodles

Okay, this one might sound really weird, but anybody that was friends with me in elementary school can relate to this must-have. Dry Ramen Noodles + Chicken Seasoning = Yummy Snack.  I know it is probably not good to eat the Ramen Noodles dry but they are so crunchy and taste so good with the seasoning sprinkled on top!!!!  We use to eat this all the time at school and our parents would get so mad at us for eating it dry!!!!!  The only time Raleigh went to Sam's with me was months ago and he had to have the industrial size of Ramen Noodles.  I have run out of ways to eat them so I have resorted back to my childhood with this snack!

Autumn Scented Candles

I really must-have candles that smell like fall.  Changing your candles with the season is such an easy way to transform the smells of your home.  When guests walk in the door and they smell hints of cinnamon or whiffs of golden apple, it makes them feel all warm and cozy inside.  Pier One has some really great candles that are slow-burning so they last through the season!

Baby Uggs

I found some super cute baby Uggs at Target!!!  The ones that I found were less than $10 and are perfect to for the girls to wear with their little leggings as the weather gets cooler.  They are just too darn cute!!!

Fitted Leather Jacket

While you are getting baby Uggs at Target, swing over to the Ladies section and score this awesome leather jacket from Xhilaration.  It is only $35 and is a great jacket to throw over a little tank with some jeans.  Raleigh calls me Grease Lightening but I don't care because I love this jacket that much!!!!!

Chocolate-Orange Cupcakes

If you have never had the combination of chocolate and orange you are missing out!  I made this delicious cupcake recipe from Giada and it tastes as good as it looks.  Instead of topping it with orange slices, I put one candy corn in the center for my garnish to make it festive.  This is a delicious yet sophisticated cupcake!

New Do

This month I really want a new hair style when I get my hair cut.   I love Heidi's new bangs that she is sporting on this season of Project Runway.  Only problem is A. I don't look like Heidi Klum and B.  Again, I don't look like Heidi Klum! Over the years I have had really short hair and have worn it both curly and straight, dark and light.  My hair really won't grow much past my shoulders so I think I want to stay close to my same length but just change up the style.  Any suggestions????

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

Read more ...

0 Daddy's Girls

Happy Fall Y'all!

Christen, Raleigh, Adeline & Maralee

October 2010

5 months

Boy, am I LOVING this weather!!!!  We have been outside so much this past week enjoying the great outdoors.  The other day I was talking to my mom about us not having been on a vacation this year and she reminded me how much fun we have just being outside.  It is so true.  Raleigh and I love going on walks and playing outside with our family.  The outdoors is God's gift for us to enjoy and it is FREE FUN which is great for us!  Lately, we have been feeling guilty about not giving the puppies as much attention as they used to get.  Before the girls arrived, they were really like our children.  Obi and Lu Lu have adjusted great to our babies but they still need to get their exercise and affection so they don't wreck the house.  Both of their birthdays are in the month of October so we decided to take them to a local park (it is more like a field) to let them run around on Saturday.  I think they enjoyed it because they were pooped the rest of the afternoon!

Raleigh loves his little girls so much.  While we are at the park, he was cutting up with them the entire time.

He loves to fly them around like Super Man (or woman in their case?!) 

 

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Miss ADELINE!!!!!

And teach them to walk (not yet, ha ha).......

Mar-Bear loves to stomp her feet!

And let Obi give them piggy back rides....

Daddy sure does love his little girls!

Raleigh with Adeline & Maralee

The weekends are such a great time for Raleigh to spend with the girls.  I have really been praying for my husband lately.  He just does so much for our family.  He is the head of the household and has chosen to support us financially so I can stay home with the girls.  It is so hard for him to get up and ready in the mornings when the girls are sleeping so peacefully.  Of course, he loves his job but being a new father is such a special time for him right now.  He is so good with the girls.  We are just getting up once now through the night (thank you, Jesus!!!) but it helps me so much to have him feed one girl while I feed the other for those late-nighters.  I know being sleep deprived can be really tough when you work outside the home all day so I am just praying for him to have his usual energy and stamina as he digs into his work weeks.

Last week was a pretty good week.  Both girls have discovered their hands but Adeline has been sucking on her fingers like crazy!  It is good for self-soothing but I'm afraid I have two thumb suckers  :)  I think they are getting close to needing a teething ring, which I think we are receiving this month at the pediatrician.  Speaking of our doctor, we went on Friday for a weight check and the girls are both 8.3 pounds!!!!!  I can really tell that they are growing.  It is getting harder to pick them up one-handed and carry them at the same time.  Also, the time in between feeds is getting a tad longer and they are both drinking around 5 ounces each time.  Sometimes I remember how long it would take us to just finish one ounce and it makes me so proud of my girls.  We haven't seen our NICU family since we roomed-in so last week we visited the day and night shift nurses.  It was SO GOOD to see everyone!  They all commented on how big the girls had gotten and Miss Kirby and Pamela got to love on the girls for over an hour!!!  They joked that they could babysit them in an isolate if we wanted.  Hmmm..........

Last week I also visited some local Mother's Morning Out programs. I just want them to go one day a week for development and socialization.  They won't start until the next school year, but the lists begin in January.  It is so crazy to me how we have to sign-up so early and we only get in if spots are available.  I found three programs that I really like so I hope they can get in at least one of them. 

All in all, we are loving us some fall!  My posts might be a little more sporadic this month because I am working away at their Christening gowns.  I am trying to finish them by the end of October so I might be dipping into my blogging time to get them finished.  Pictures will come, promise!

Hope everyone has a blessed day!!!!!

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

Read more ...

13 New Wheels

So, Raleigh and I have been doing some car shopping.  Before we had the girls, we thought we would have enough room for our new additions in the two cars we currently own.  Well, after a couple of trips to Dothan, we have soon realized that we are crammed pretty tight in our "big" car.  I try my hardest to pack light, but between two adults, two babies, and two dogs we are becoming a very close family on our car rides home!   When we travel on Raleigh's truck, I have to adjust my seat to the upright position so the car seat can lock into place.  Another thing that we have come to realize is the double stroller barely fits in my car.  Now that we have permission to go around town, I am going to have to have the stroller when I am by myself.  Our cars are great, but they just don't have enough space.

Currently, I drive a Volvo S-40.

I LOVE my car.  It is cute, it drives great, and I feel safe.  To me, the type of car a person drives speaks of their personality.  I love my car so much because I feel like it is me in a car version :)  But, now that I am a mother of two, does it still fit my personality?  While I adore scooting around town in my bubbly little car, I have to realize that my life does not just revolve around my needs anymore.  Now, I need to cart around strollers, car seats, and diaper bags when I go places (and those are just the necessities).  As the girls get older, they are going to need more space for their legs and luggage.  Also, what if we have more kids?  I certainly can't fit three in the car that I drive right now.  Hence, the search for a new car.  Here is what we have been looking at so far:

Option 1: You got it, the Station Wagon. Still in the Volvo family, it has more room in the back seat and the trunk.  While this is still a car (big plus for me) we aren't sure if it has enough space for us when we travel with the dogs and long vacations.

Option 2:  An SUV that has a third row seat.  Right now, the Toyota Sequoia is my favorite SUV.  I really liked the way it drove and I felt like it had a lot of storage once the third row was taken out.  The downside of this car to us is the trunk space with the third row in place.  It is tiny and there is no way we could travel with our dogs.  Also, we really want bucket seats and those are much harder to come by in this car.  Some of the Sequoia's that we have found have bucket seats with a center console that can be taken out so that is the option that we would prefer to purchase.  This car seems great for a family of four but what if we want to have more kids?  Do we purchase this type of car now and then re-access our needs if we have a larger family?  Decisions, decisions!

Option 3:  I can't believe I am considering this but option three is a VAN.  When did I become so old?!?  Is it so uncool to be under thirty and driving a van?????  We all know the stereotype of a van driver is "soccer mom."  When I was younger and envisioning myself as a mom, I totally saw me being just that; a soccer mom.  I want to drive the girls to their sport games (and I would indeed love for them to play soccer!), school, and other extracurricular activities.  But, now that I am a mom, I feel like the van is totally ripping away at my youth.  I mean, a van?  REALLY?????  As crazy as this sounds though; a van really has everything that I want in our new car.  It has bucket seats, a third row, really nice trunk space, and it has all of these cool kid gadgets like DVD players and tucked away storage.  The van that I really like is the Volkswagen Routan but it is still a really new van on the market. Does anyone out there drive a Routan?  Is it dependable or require a lot of maintenance?

Our other option is the Toyota Sienna.

I mean, a van really does make sense for a family.  But, a van?????

Friends, we need some advice!  If you have a family, what type of car do you drive?  What are your likes/dislikes?  For my friends without babies, would you totally make fun of me for driving a van????? :)  Leave us a comment with your thoughts.

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

Read more ...